ZCZC
BSP-22
TENNIS-ATP-GER
Basilashvili outlasts Rublev to retain Hamburg title
HAMBURG, July 28, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili retained
his title at the Hamburg Open on Sunday when he beat unseeded Russian Andrey
Rublev, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
Basilashvili, who was seeded fourth at the clay-court event, is ranked
16th in the world but will lose points because last year he took the title
after coming through qualifying.
The 27-year-old’s only other ATP Tour title came in the hard-court China
Open in Beijing last October.
The Georgian dropped serve early in the first set but broke back with his
sixth break point of the sixth game. He wasted a set point in 10th game
before clinching on the fourth break point of a marathon 12th game.
The 21-year old Rublev hit back with the only break of the second set to
level the match.
Basilashvili broke in the second game of the final set. Rublev hit back at
once but Basilashvili immediately broke again. The young Russian took the
next game to deuce but the Georgian held and was in control the rest of the
way.
Basilashvili upset Hamburg native and second seed Alexander Zverev in the
semi-finals.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1825HRS